As momentum gathers we will post on this page the reports emanating from the regional meetings.
The North-East Steering Group minutes of August 5, 2009 – see the list of questions for workers to be used at the forthcoming regional on September 21 in Newcastle.
NE Steering Group minutes, August 2009
The West Midlands Steering Group notes of July 30 in diagrammatic form.
West Midlands Steering Group notes Bham 30th July 2009
The West Midlands meeting was hosted by the Newman College in Birmingham. Around 30 people survived a sweaty afternoon of thought-provoking argument. As an example one contributor wondered if the Letter’s evident Marxist undertone was a blockage, whilst musing as to how the evangelical Christian youth groups squared their religious goals with the notion of unpredictable outcomes. Thanks to Pauline Grace for her notes of the meeting’s ebb and flow.
Developing and Defending Youth Work notes- West Midlands
The Preston meeting held on June 12 was positive, although the attendance was a little disappointing. John Richardson’s inimitable notes give you a feel for the proceedings. A further gathering is being planned for the Autumn, whilst the North-West Regional Youth Work Unit are hosting a training day focused on the Open Letter in early November
In Defence of Youth Work- North-West report, June 12
The Newcastle gathering held on June 15 was a resounding success, despite muttered opposition from some within senior management in the area. The initial notes are to be found here with more detail to follow.
Developing and defending youth work, Newcastle, Brief notes, 15.6.09
For a comprehensive account of the first London and South-East meeting held on May19 at Goldsmiths – essential reading to get a feel for impetus of the campaign with a sweeping opening from Kalbir Shukra, news of the threat to youth work training from Sue Robertson and detailed accounts of the group and plenary debate.
Hi, We have the greatest chance of supporting youth work, if we can have one voice where possible. You can understand? my disappointment following the above “2 liner” from the regional event, which starts to create a wedge. As a senior manager, who supports youth work as much as the next person, the reference to ” despite muttered (or is it muted?), opposition”, comes too early in what should be an open and extended debate. We should not be looking to dismiss the potential for common ground, at what is an early stage. You never know we may miss the opportunity to build a consensus around which we could make progress.
Comment by PETER DAVIES — June 22, 2009 @ 2:10 pm |
Peter
I must apologise if this comment on the opposition of some in senior management is untoward. It was picked up by way of various messages from people in the North-East. It chimes also with my own experience as a former Chief Youth and community Officer of being somewhat isolated from colleagues, who were embracing enthusiastically ‘new managerialism’. If this is not the case, I’m happy to be proved wrong. Of course to speak with a single voice in defence of a democratic and emancipatory youth work would be preferable. However the wedge dividing often senior management from workers has not been created by a chance remark on this web site. It has been driven into the heart of the work by a substantial number of senior managers separating themselves from their workers, refusing serious internal critical debate and carrying out the diktat from above. Of course there are honourable exceptions like yourself and I respect deeply your commitment. Building a consensus that can hold together needs a lot of honest internal self-criticism.
Best wishes
Tony
Comment by Tony Taylor — June 22, 2009 @ 2:56 pm |
I have been privy to many a muttering by managers in their quest to hold back open dialogue amongst youth work staff about the direction of travel the practice is going in, so I think ‘muttered opposition’ sounds about right at these stages of storming & norming as a group!
As a senior manager you will be aware of the deconstruction of the youth work identity in recent years, especially now at this time where many FRONT LINE Youth workers have faced both a cut in salary as well as a dumbing down of their status, whilst their managerial counterparts status have increased through through an ill fitted JOB EVALUATION process..
There are MANY issues that need to be discussed before a common ground is reached. Open and transparent forums such as this are therefore needed so I would embrace yourself Peter, I reckon many more ’2 liners’ will crop up before the group really start performing!
Comment by Jan — August 1, 2009 @ 10:45 am |